Just a brief update on the Anchorage economy. Anchorage and Alaska are still in a better economic place than most of the lower 48, but no state will escape its repercussions altogether.
* The Alaska legislature is currently considering raising the minimum wage from $7.15 per hour to $8.75. There is also a bill under consideration that would keep Alaska's minimum wage at least a $1.00 more per hour than what is federally mandated.
* The budget shortfall for the State of Alaska is much more than what was reported two months ago. The estimate now stands at $1.65 billion. Lower gas and oil prices are the culprits for the increase in the estimated deficit. Governor Palin has put forward a proposal to tap into the state's savings account as well as implementing budget cuts.
* Acting Mayor Claman has begun his reductions in spending, which is estimated to save Anchorage $7.3 million. There is an estimated shortfall of $17 million in the city's budget.
* The Assembly has approved $100 million in bonds for Anchorage residents to vote on in the April ballot. The bonds would affect schools, infrastructure and public safety.
* As California, Nevada and Florida have learned, double-digit increases in value may be "heaven" for awhile. But, it does not take long for those inflationary prices to go south, bringing all kinds of problems along with it. Slow and stead wins the race.
The Colony High School Band became a part of history today when they marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in the Inaugural Parade.
The students were able to become a part of history through hard work, perseverance and and the great 
negotiating skills of the band's director, Jamin Burton. The band raised the $67,000 needed for the trip without the help of public funds.
The Colony High School Band, which is only five years old, also marched in the 2006 Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C. The CHS Marching Band has been featured on the Marching.comwebsite. The Colony High School Band is the only marching band in Alaska . Colony High School is located in Wasilla Alaska
You can read what the kids are posting to their Inaugural trip blog which is being featured in the Anchorage Daily News.
You may be able to experience a vacation of a lifetime by taking advantage of discounted cruises, 
lodging and tours.
Alaska is beautiful and most visitors consider this vacation trip, the trip of a lifetime. It is the vacation that they always remember and talk about to others. There is good reason for this. There is no other place on earth as captivating as Alaska .
The city of Anchorage offers so much to see and do. Anchorage makes a perfect "home-base" to experience the wonders of our state.
Cruise lines, travel tours, lodges, and hotels are offering specials discounts and "stimulus" vacation packages to travelers this season. So, be sure to check them out.
Travel north this year. Come to Alaska and make Anchorage your first stop. I can promise you will not be disappointed.
Information on traveling North to Alaska:
Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau
On January 3rd, Alaska celebrated its 50th year as a state in the Union.
Friday and Saturday saw many celebrations throughout the state in Anchorage , Fairbanks , Juneau , Kodiak, Nome , Unalaska and Valdez.
Anchorage sponsored a celebration which included a fireworks display following a cauldron lighting and a full day of musical entertainment. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Governor Sarah Palin and outgoing Mayor Mark Begich all addressed the crowds that gathered to participate.
The Anchorage Daily News has posted several interesting articles as a "Countdown to Statehood" feature. This week's article talks about the 50 years of change Alaska has experienced as a state and the many benefits Alaskans have received. The article discusses how different life might be if Alaska never became a state.
I found the article quite interesting and in some ways enlightening so I will share it with you here.
Here is to the next 50 years!
Pauline
Related Links in the Anchorage Daily News:
Alaska Statehood Celebration Video
Snowzilla was quite an attraction in Anchorage with people waiting in line to get a picture with the colossus snowman. Unfortunately, Snowzilla is no longer with us and Anchorage must say bye-bye to our unofficial attraction.
In 2005, Mr. Billy Powers did what many people like to do when the snow falls, he built a snowman. The large snowman did what many snowmen do when it warms up after a snowfall, he began to melt.
Mr. Powers rebuilt his snowman which grew and grew and grew! The project soon became a family project and then the neighborhood began to help, too. The result was an enormous 16' snowman that somehow got dubbed "Snowzilla". The giant snowman's traditional corn cob pipe was made from manila evelopes. Glass bottles made the buttons and a collapsible hamper made the perfect top hat.
Snowzilla reminds me of the "build it and they will come" statement in the movie, "Field of Dreams". Billy Powers built the snowman for his own pleasure, but "they" came from all over Anchorage and the world (Snowzilla drew attention of the international media) to see the giant snowman.
Unfortunately, there is always a sad ending to snowmen. The sun always melts them away. In Snowzilla's 
case, it was the City of Anchorage that was his demise. After three years of bringing fun and joy to his visitors, it seems Snowzilla violated some code in the Municipality of Anchorage , so he was bulldozed down.
You may not be able to see Snowzilla any longer, but you can still see many beautifully decorated homes in Anchorage . Use this Holiday Lights interactive map to map out a tour. A tour of the homes are decorated for your enjoyment and can be a really fun-filled evening for a Christmas Eve or Christmas Night activity. Turn your radio to your favorite stations, grab your iPod or pop in a Christmas CD in the CD player in your car. Take along a thermos of hot chocolate and enjoy!
Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!
Pauline
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Serving all your real estate needs in the entire Municipality of Anchorage including Anchorage, Eagle River, Chugiak, Peters Creek and Girdwood.
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Do you have any good testimonials that clients have provided you in the past? Be sure to add them here.
We were first time buyers and not sure of how to go about finding the home we wanted. Pauline helped us figure out what we wanted, found us a house, and got us things that we never would have though to ask for. She made buying a home fun and easy and very rewarding. We would recommend Pauline to ANYONE thinking about buying a home.
Michelle & Tom Bybee
Even though I was a first time home buyer, I knew exactly what I wanted, but I couldn’t find it. Pauline helped me find a builder for my plan, helped me work through the design phase with him and stuck with me all the way through closing. She made herself available to answer questions and always kept my interests first and foremost. I would highly recommend her to anyone.
Wendy Fagan
We bought our first home from Pauline. When we decided to sell our first home and move to a second home we called her. We thought we could sell our home by owner, but people kept driving by. After we asked Pauline to sell it, we got full price in a short time. On our new purchase, she showed us homes while we were hauling around newborn, 3 & 5 year olds. She ran paperwork to the mortgage company and even picked out paint for the painter. She always had a smile and I never once got the impression she would rather be doing anything else. She really has a knack for visualizing sketchy information and turning it into reality.
Sallee & Mike Baltierra
The greatest quality about Pauline is her personal integrity and she works harder than anyone else. Most importantly, she is thorough. She had the foresight to write in a 10 day extention on the sale of our home, just in case the new home wasn’t quite finished. It wasn’t. Without it we would have been on the cold street at Christmastime. Instead it was a smooth transition.
Luke and Yvonna Augenstein, “Happy clients
We especially appreciated Pauline’s patience and persistence as she searched for the home we wanted over a year and a half period of time. Of course we wanted it all: space, specific location and price. And she finally found it. At all times Pauline kept our interests in mind and never tried to “rush” a sale.
Betty Jean and Fred Olin
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